Aqua Firma

What Aqua Firma does

Aqua Firma Services is an Australian private environmental biotechnology consultancy operating from Sydney (Glebe/Broadway, NSW). Founded in 2021 under ABN 87 654 790 851, the firm is led by Dr. Tim Charlton as Principal and Director, who brings a PhD from the University of New South Wales and over 20 years of cross-sector consulting experience in aquaculture bio-security, bio-analytical chemistry, protective coating formulation, and R&D tax advisory. The firm positions itself as an advisory, design, and implementation consultancy integrating products, processes, and specialists to transform organic waste into value-added products across aquaculture, agriculture, horticulture, and environmental management verticals.

The company's commercial portfolio is anchored by CoralCare Coating, a proprietary non-toxic food-grade wax formulation that reduces algae growth on coral surfaces without harming corals and is sold directly to aquaculture operators via contact-based pricing. Parallel R&D streams cover proprietary biochar formulations for soil fertility, reduced water and fertilizer demand, and reduced ruminant methane, alongside an in-development self-watering horticulture product targeting the residential market. Underlying service offerings span plant health analysis, soil science, environmental microbiology, carbon cycle and offset modeling, arid-zone re-vegetation, and sensor/data network implementation, supported by integration capabilities in composting, algae aquaculture, vermiculture, bio-char production, and water treatment.

Revenue is generated through professional services (consulting, advisory, scientific analysis, and implementation) combined with direct product sales (CoralCare), all delivered via a principal-led, direct-engagement sales motion with quote-based, non-transparent pricing. The go-to-market is consultative and enterprise-oriented, with explicit reference to delivering commercial trials to international clients and serving organizations operating in challenging commercial and regulatory environments. The headcount of 1–10 indicates an early-stage, founder-anchored operation with no institutional funding, no parent company, no public awards, patents, or partnerships disclosed in the source material.

Name

Aqua Firma

Legal name

Aqua Firma Services

Website

https://aquafirma.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aqua Firma Services is an Australian boutique environmental biotechnology consultancy that advises, designs, and implements solutions for transforming organic waste into value-added products across aquaculture, agriculture, and environmental management sectors, anchored by its proprietary CoralCare Coating.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Biotechnology Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Aquaculture (11251), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM), Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE)

Keywords

• Environmental consulting
• Biotech solutions
• Aquaculture coatings
• Organic waste processing
• Biochar formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Glebe

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Professional consulting services providing advisory, design and implementation consultancy for biotech solutions across multiple sectors including aquaculture, agriculture, and environmental management.
2. Scientific Services: Scientific services applied to identify problems and create value-add products and processes including plant health analysis, soil science, environmental microbiology, and sensor/data network implementation.
3. Product Sales - CoralCare Coating: Sale of CoralCare coating product - a non-toxic coating for aquaculture applications. Contact-based pricing for advice, cost and delivery options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Aqua Firma Services is an advisory, design and implementation consultancy that delivers biotech solutions to transform organic waste into value-added products. The firm provides scientific consulting services (plant health, soil science, environmental microbiology, carbon cycle modeling), integration services (composting, algae aquaculture, vermiculture, bio-char production, water treatment), and proprietary products such as the CoralCare Coating. It serves international clients in aquaculture, agriculture, and environmental management sectors.

Product overview

Aqua Firma Services operates as an advisory, design, and implementation consultancy focused on integrated solutions for the biosphere, transforming organic waste into value-added products. The company's portfolio includes the CoralCare Coating product—a non-toxic surface treatment for coral aquaculture—alongside scientific consulting services (plant health, soil science, carbon cycle, environmental microbiology), integration services (composting, algae aquaculture, vermiculture, bio-char, water treatment, waste management), and project implementation. The firm also conducts emerging R&D in non-toxic coatings, self-watering horticulture products, and biochar formulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CoralCare: A non-toxic coating product formulated with food grade waxes, designed to reduce algae without harming corals. Prepared surfaces support growing coral frags or polyps.

Products and services

• CoralCare Coating A non-toxic coating product formulated with food grade waxes designed to reduce algae growth on coral surfaces without harming corals. Used to prepare surfaces for growing coral frags or polyps, targeting aquaculture operators and marine applications.
• Advisory, Design and Implementation Consultancy Professional consulting services providing advisory, design and implementation expertise for biotech solutions across multiple sectors including aquaculture, agriculture, and environmental management. Targets international enterprise clients in challenging commercial and regulatory environments.
• Scientific Services Scientific services applied to identify problems and create value-added products and processes, including plant health analysis, soil science, environmental microbiology, carbon cycle and offset models, arid zone re-vegetation, irrigation and hydraulic modelling, and sensor/data network implementation. Targeted at agricultural and environmental organizations.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cardno (now Stantec): Major environmental and engineering consultancy with an established aquaculture, agriculture, and environmental management practice. Compares to Aqua Firma on the environmental consulting axis, though at far greater scale and breadth.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and advisory consultancy with agriculture and aquaculture exposure. Comparable to Aqua Firma's scientific-services offering, but as part of a much wider environmental and sustainability portfolio.
• Akva Group: Global aquaculture technology and equipment supplier with software and consulting services for fish farms. Comparable to Aqua Firma on the aquaculture services axis, but at vastly larger scale and focused on hardware/software delivery rather than biotech R&D.
• Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based independent aquaculture and bioscience research institute covering aquaculture health, biosecurity, and environmental science. Comparable in scientific services scope but materially larger and more established than Aqua Firma.

Emerging players

• Hatch Blue: Aquaculture-focused venture builder and investor network. Comparable as an aquaculture ecosystem participant that supports early-stage aquaculture innovation, though its primary model is capital and accelerator services rather than consulting.
• XpertSea: Canada-based aquaculture technology company applying data and biotech solutions to shrimp and fish farming. Comparable to Aqua Firma's biotech-enabled aquaculture product and services thesis, though focused on imaging/AI rather than coatings and biochar.

Direct peers

• Poseidon Aquatic Sciences Management: Australian aquatic biosecurity and environmental consultancy serving aquaculture and aquatic resource clients. Closest direct comparable to Aqua Firma given the shared niche of aquatic bio-security advisory in Australia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aqua Firma